Marine hull



April 9, 1968 J. G. zAPHlRlou ET AL 3,376,840

MAR I NE HULL Filed Oct. 19, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet l 'a VQ SSI . A al N Rlv Qi

INVENTORS Jaunes G-Zaphz'rzbu April 9, 1968 1.6. zAPHlRloU ET AL3,375,840

MARINE HULL Filed oct. 19, 1966 2 sheets-sheet .Q

FEB-.

INVENTORS United States Patent O 3,376,840 MARINE HULL James G.Zaphiriou, 25638 Wilson Drive, Dearborn Heights, Mich. 48127; and JohnR. Cabauatan, 934 Ford, Lincoln Park, Mich. 48146; and Arthur L. Gagne,Detroit, Mich.; said Gagne assignor to said Zaphiriou, and saidCabauatan Filed ()ct. 19, 1966, Ser. No. 587,859 Claims. (114-665) Thepresent invention relates generally to boats and more particularly to animproved hull construction for power boats.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide an improvedhull construction which will reduce the friction between the hull andthe water during forward movement of the power boat in the water.

Another object is to provide an improved hull construction for a powerboat which will give a smooth ride in rough Water and a very fast ridein smooth water.

A further object is to provide an improved hull construction which iscapable of being effectively maneuvered or steered during forwardmovement thereof.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent whenconsidered in conjunction with the following specification and theaccompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view of the hull construction of theinvention;

FIG. 2 is a bottom plan view of the hull construction of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken generally along lines 3 3 ofFIG. l;

FIG. 4 is a vertical sect-ional view taken along lines 4-4 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a vertical -sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a rear end view of the hull shown in FIG. l.

Generally speaking, the improved hull construction includes alongitudinally disposed center portion forming the bow and bottom andextending from the forward end to the rear end thereof. The centerportion is substantially V-shaped in cross section and the includedangle between the walls of the center portion forms a relatively smallacute angle at the forward end or bow and the angle is progressivelyincreased to an angle aproaching 180 at approximately mid-point of thebottom with the lower edge of the V-shaped portion being flattened atthe rear end of the bottom to provide a first planing surface mediatelythe center portion of the bottom. A pair of runners are providedadjacent the outer side edges of the bottom which are relatively narrowwith respect to the bottom and extend from the rear of the hullforwardly and merge with the lower surface of the bottom at a pointintermediate the rear and forward ends of the hull.

The large angle between the walls of the center portion form what may betermed a modified V-portion at the center bottom and the flat surface atthe rear or stern of the bottom provides a first point of suspension forthe hull during planing. The spaced runners in combination with thecenter portion of the bottom thereby provide a three point suspensionfor the hull. The small .acute angle V- shaped portion at the forwardend or bow of the hull are very effective in cutting through rough waterresulting in a smoother ride and at the same time also provide almostperpendicular surfaces adjacent the `forward end or bow of the hull toincrease the maneuverability of the boat in turning.

FIG. 1 of the drawings shows a hull 10, preferably constructed for usewith an inboard or outboard motor (not shown), having side walls 12 andthe bottom structure 14 of the present invention.

ICC

- The bottom structure 14 comprises a longitudinally extending centerportion 16 with the walls 18 of the center portion having a small acuteincluded angle at the forward end or bow of the hull, as shown inFIGURES 1 and 3. This angle progressively increases to an angleapproaching 180 at a point approximately midway between the forward orbow and rear or stern of the hull as shown in FIGURES 4 and 5. Thisprovides a deep V-shaped portion at the forward end of the hullconstruction which progressively merges with a modified V-portion atapproximately the mid-point of the hull. The lower edge of the V-shapedcenter portion is attened adjacent the rear or stern of the hull, asshown at 20, to provide a centrally disposed planing surface adjacentthe rear of the bottom 12.

A pair of narrow runners 28 extend between the outer edges of the bottomand the respective side walls of the hull. Each runner has asubstantially fiat lower surface 30 extending from the rear edge of thehull forwardly. As shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, each of the runners 28 hasa vertically disposed surface 32 adjacent the inner edge of each of therunners which intersects with the lower surfaces of the substantiallyfiat walls 18 of the bottom, as at 34 in FIGURE 5.

As shown by the dotted line 34 in FIGURE l, the thickness of the runners28 is substantially constant adjacent the rear end of the hull andprogressively decreases forwardly to a point slightly ahead of themid-point of the hull wherein the lower surfaces 30 merge with thearcuate segments 36 of the bow of the center portion 16.

As can readily be appreciated, the improved hull construction provides athree point planing surface at the stern of the hull. Although theV-shaped central portion of the bottom has been shown to be flattened atthe stern, this is not absolutely essential in the construction of thehull accord-ing to the invention. The substantially flat V- shapedconfiguration of the center portion at the stern of the hull wouldprovide a central planing surface for the hull at high speeds withoutthe flattened portion. However, the flattened portion does provide morecontact area for the central planing point of the hull at the stern ofthe boat.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown anddescribed, it will be understod that various changes and modificationmay be made without departing from the spirit of the invention asdefined by the following claims.

We claim:

1. A power boat hull construction comprising a longitudinally disposedcenter portion extending from the forward to the rear end of said hulland being substantially -shaped in cross-section, said V-shape beingformed by adjacent walls of the center portion and having an acute angleat the forward end of said hull with said angle progressively increasingto an angle approaching approximately midway between the forward andrear end of said hull, and a pair of substantially fiat runnersextending outwardly from the respective side edges of said centerportion, said runners being relatively narrow with respect to saidcenter portion and extending from the rear of said hull forwardly, withthe lower surface of said center portion and said runners lying in a`common plane adjacent the rear end of said hull, whereby the lowersurface of the center portion and said runners form a three pointplaning surface for said hull.

2. A power boat hull construction as defined in claim 1, furtherincluding a vertically extending surface adjacent the inner edge of eachof said runners which intersects with one of the walls forming saidcenter portion.

3. A power boat hull construction as defined in claim 2, wherein saidrunners are of substantially constant thickness adjacent the rear ofsaid hull and progressively decrease in thickness to merge with thelower surface of said center portion at a point spaced from the forwardend of said hull.

4. A power boat hull construction as defined in claim 1, wherein thelower edge of said central portion includes a flattened portion adjacentthe rear end thereof to provide a fiat surface lying in a common planewith the surfaces of said runners at the rear end of said hull.

S. A power boat huil construction as deued in claim 1, wherein the lowersurface of said central portion is sub- References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 1,898,876 2/1933 Heljesson 114-66.5 2,020,792 11/1935 Maynard eta1 114-665 ANDREW H. FARRELL, Primary Examiner.

1. A POWER BOAT HULL CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A LONGITUDINALLY DISPOSEDCENTER PORTION EXTENDING FROM THE FORWARD TO THE REAR END OF SAID HULLAND BEING SUBSTANTIALLY V-SHAPED IN CROSS-SECTION, SAID V-SHAPE BEINGFORMED BY ADJACENT WALLS OF THE CENTER PORTION AND HAVING AN ACUTE ANGLEAT THE FORWARD END OF SAID HULL WITH SAID ANGLE PROGRESSIVELY INCREASINGTO AN ANGLE APPROACHING 180* APPROXIMATELY MIDWAY BETWEEN THE FORWARDAND REAR END OF SAID HULL, AND A PAIR OF SUBSTANTIALLY FLAT RUNNERSEXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE RESPECTIVE SIDE EDGES OF SAID CENTERPORTION, SAID RUNNERS BEING RELATIVELY NARROW WITH RESPECT TO SAIDCENTER PORTION AND EXTENDING FROM THE REAR OF SAID HULL FORWARDLY, WITHTHE LOWER SURFACE OF SAID CENTER PORTION AND SAID RUNNERS LYING IN ACOMMON PLANE ADJACENT THE REAR END OF SAID HULL, WHEREBY THE LOWERSURFACE OF THE CENTER PORTION AND SAID RUNNERS FORM A THREE POINTPLANING SURFACE FOR SAID HULL.